QUACK. One, who, without sufficient knowledge, study or previous
preparation, and without the diploma of some college or university, undertakes
to practice medicine or surgery, under the pretence that he possesses secrets
in those arts.

2. He is criminally answerable for his unskilful practice, and also,
civilly to his patient in certain cases. Vide Mala praxis; Physician.

QUADRANS, civil law. The fourth part of the whole. Hence the
heir exquad rante; that is to say, the fourth-part of the whole.

QUADRANT. In angular measures, a quadrant is equal to ninety
degrees. Vide Measure.

QUADRIENNIUM UTILE, Scotch law. The four years of a minor
between his age of twenty-one and twenty-five years, are so called.

2. During this period he is permitted to impeach contracts made against
his interest previous to his arriving at the age of twenty-one years. Ersk.
Prin. B. 1, t. 7, n. 19; 1 Bell's Com. 135, 5th ed.; Ersk. Inst. B. 1, t. 7, s.
35.

QUADRIPARTITE. Having four parts, or divided into four parts;
as, this indenture quadripartite made between A B, of the one part, C D, of the
second part, E P, of the third part, and G H, of the fourth part.

QUADROON.A person who is descended from a white person, and
another person who has an equal mixture of the European and African blood. 2
Bailey, 558. Vide Mulatto.

2. When the defendant in trespass justifies, that the trespass justified
in the plea is the same as that complained of in the declaration; this clause
is called quae est eadem. Gould. Pl. c. 3, s. 79, 80.

3. The form is as follows: "which are the same assaullting, heating and
ill-treating, the said John, in the said declaration mentioned, and whereof the
said John hath above thereof complained against the said James." Vide 1 Saund.
14, 208, n. 2; 2 Id. 5 a, n. 3; Archb. Civ. Pl. 217.

QUAERE, practice. A word frequently used to denote that an
inquiry ought to be made of a doubtful thing. 2 Lill. Ab. 406.

QUAERENS NON INVENIT PLEGIUM, practice. The plaintiff has not
found pledge. The return made by the sheriff to a writ directed to him with
this clause, namely, si A facerit B securum de clamore suo prosequando, when
the plaintiff has neglected to find sufficient security. F. N. B. 38.

QUAESTIO, Rom. civ. law. A sort of commission (ad quaerendum) to
inquire into some criminal matter given to a magistrate or citizen, who was
called quaesitor or quaestor who made report thereon to the senate or the
people, as the one or the other appointed him. In progress, he was empowered
(with the assistance of a counsel) to adjudge the case; and the tribunal thus
constituted, was called quaestio. This special tribunal continued in use until
the end of the Roman republic, although it was resorted to during the last
times of the republic, only in extraordinary cases.

2. The manner in which such commissions were constituted was this: If
the matter to be inquired of was within the jurisdiction of the comitia, the
senate on the demand of the consul or of a tribune or of one of its members,
declared by a decree that there was cause to prosecute a citizen. Then the
consul ex auctoritate senatus asked the people in comitia, (rogabat rogatio) to
enact this decree into a law. The comitia adopted it either simply, or with
amendment, or they rejected it.

3. The increase of population and of crimes rendered this method, which
was tardy at best, onerous and even impracticable. In the year A. U. C. 604 or
149 B. C., under the consulship of Censorinus and Manilius, the tribune
Calpurnius Piso, procured the passage of a law establishing a questio perpetua,
to take cognizance of the crime of extortion, committed by Roman magistrates
against strangers de pecuniis repetundis. Cic. Brut. 27. De Off.. II., 21; In
Verr. IV. 25.

4. Many such tribunals were afterwards established, such as Quaestiones
de majestate, de ambitu, de peculatu, de vi,de sodalitiis, &c. Each was
composed of a certain number of judges taken from the senators, and presided
over by a preator, although he might delegate his authority to a public
officer, who was called judex quaestionis. These tribunals continued a year
only; for the meaning of the word perpetuus is (non interruptus,) not
interrupted during the term of its appointed duration.

5. The establishment of these quaestiones, deprived the comitia of their
criminal jurisdiction, except the crime of treason - they were in fact the
depositories of the judicial power during the sixth and seventh centuries of
the Roman republic, the last of which was remarkable for civil dissentions, and
replete with great public, transactions. Without some knowledge of the
constitution of the Quaestio perpetua, it is impossible to understand the
forensic speeches of Cicero, or even the political history of that age. But
when Julius Caesar, as dictator, sat for the trial of Ligarius, the ancient
constitution of the republic was in fact destroyed, and the criminal tribunals,
which had existed in more or less vigor and purity until then, existed no
longer but in name. Under Augustus, the concentration of the triple power of
the consuls, pro-consuls and tribunes, in his person transferred to him as of
course, all judicial powers and authorities.

QUAESTOR. The name of a magistrate of ancient Rome.

QUAKERS. A sect of Christians.

2. Formerly they were much persecuted on account of their peaceable
principles which forbade them to bear arms, and they were denied many rights
because they refused to make corporal oath. They are relieved in a great degree
from the consequent penalties for refusing to bear arms; and their affirmations
are everywhere in the United States, as is believed, taken instead of their
oaths.

QUALIFICATION. Having the requisite qualities for a thing; as,
to be president of the United States, the candidate must possess certain
qualifications. See President of the United States.

QUALIFIED. This term is frequently used in law. A man hag a
qualified property in animals ferae naturae, while they remain in his power,
but, as soon as they regain their liberty, his property in them is lost. A man
has a qualified right to recover property of which he is not the owner, but
which was unlawfully taken out of his possession. But this right may be
defeated by the owner bring a suit or claiming the property. Vide Animals;
Trover.

QUALIFIED FEE, estates. One which has a qualification subjoined
to it, and which must be determined whenever the qualification annexed to it is
at an end. A Iimitation to a man and his heirs on the part of his father,
affords an example of this species of estate. Litt. 254; 2 Bouv. Inst. n.
1695.

QUALIFIED INDORSEMENT. A transfer of a bill of exchange or
promissory note to an indorsee, without any liability to the indorser; the
words usually employed for this purpose, are sans recours, without recourse. 1
Bouv. Inst. n. 1138,

QUALITY, persons. The state or condition of a person.

2. Two contrary qualities cannot be in the same person at the same time.
Dig. 41, 10, 4.

3. Every one is presumed to know the quality of the person with whom he
is contracting.

4. In the United States, the people happily are all upon an equality in
their civil and political rights.

QUALITY, pleading. That which distinguishes one thing from
another of the same kind.

2. It is in general necessary, when the declaration alleges an injury to
the goods and chattels, or any contract relating to them, that the quality
should be stated and it is also essential, in an action for the recovery of
real estate, that its quality should be shown; as, whether it consists of
houses, lands, or other hereditaments, whether the lands are meadow, pasture or
arable, &c. The same rule requires that, in an action for an injury to real
property, the quality should be shown. Steph. Pl. 214, 215. Vide, as to the
various qualities, Ayl. Pand. [60.]

QUAMDIU SE BENE GESSERIT. As long as he shall behave himself
well. A clause inserted in commissions, when such instruments were written in
Latin, to signify the tenure by which the officer held his office.

QUANDO ACCIDERENT, pleading, practice. When they may happen.
When a de-fendant, executor, or administrator pleads plene administravit, the
plaintiff may pray to have judgment of assets quando acciderint. Bull. N. P.
169; Bac. Ab. Executor, M.

QUANTI MINORIS. The name of a particular action in Louisiana. An
action quanti minoris is one brought for the reduction of the price of a thing
sold, in consequence of defects in the thing which is the object of the
sale.

2. Such action must be commenced within twelve months from the date of
the sale, or from the time within which the defect became known to the
purchaser. 3 Mart. N. S. 287 11 Mart. Lo. R. 11.

QUANTITY, pleading. That which is susceptible of measure.

2. It is a general rule that, when the declaration alleges an injury to
goods and chattels, or any contract relating to them, their quantity should be
stated. Gould on Pl. c. 4, 35. And in actions for the recovery of real estate,
the quantity of the land should be specified. Bract. 431, a; 11 Co. 25 b, 55 a;
Doct. Pl. 85, 86; 1 East, R. 441; 8 East, R. 357; 13 East, R. 102; Steph. Pl.
314, 315.

QUANTUM DAMNIFICATUS, equity practice. An issue directed by a
court of equity to be tried in a court of law, to ascertain by a trial before a
jury, the amount of damages suffered by the non-performance of some collateral
undertaking which a penalty has been given to secure. When such damages have
thus been ascertained the court will grant relief upon their payment. Jer. on
Jur. 477; 4 Bouv. Inst. n. 3913.

QUANTUM MERUIT, pleading. As much as he has deserved. When a
person employs another to do work for him, without any agreement as to his
compensation, the lawimplies a promise from, the employer to the workman that
he will pay him for his services, as much as be may deserve or merit. In such
case the plaintiff may suggest in his declaration that the defendant promised
to pay him as much as he reasonably deserved, and then aver that his trouble
was worth sucli a sum of money, which the defendant has omitted to pay. This is
called an assumpsit on a quantum meruit. 2 Bl. Com. 162, 3 1 Vin. Ab. 346; 2
Phil. Ev. 82.

QUANTUM VALEBAT, pleading. As much as it was worth. When goods
are sold, without specifying any price, the law implies a promise from the
buyer to the seller that he will pay him for them as much as they were
worth.

2. The plaintiff may, in such case, suggest in this declaration that the
defendant promised to pay him as much as the said goods were worth, and then
aver that they were worth so much, which the defendant has refused to pay. Vide
the authorities cited under the article Quantum meruit.

QUARANTINE, commerce, crim. law. The space of forty days, or a
less quantity of time, during which the crew of a ship or vessel coming from a
port or place infected or supposed to be infected with discase, are required to
remain on board after their arrival, before they can be permitted to land.

2. The object of the quarantine is to ascertain whether the crew are
infected or not.

3. To break the quarantine without legal authority is a misdemeanor. 1
Russ. on Cr. 133.

4. In cases of insurance of ships, the insurer is responsible when the
insurance extends to her being moored in port 24 hours in safety, although she
may have arrived, if before the 24 hours are expired she is ordered to perform
quarantine, if any accident contemplated by the policy occur 1 Marsh. on Ins.
264.

QUARANTINE, inheritances, rights. The space of forty days during
which a widow has a right to remain in her late hushand's principal mansion,
immediately after his death. The right of the widow is also called her
quarantine.

2. In some, perhaps all the states of the United States, provision has
been expressly made by statute securing to the widow this right for a greater
or lesser space of time in Massachusetts, Mass. Rev. St. 411, and New York, 4
Kent, Com. 62, the widow is entitled to the mansion house for forty days. In
Ohio, for one year, Walk. Intr. 231, 324. In Alabama, Indiana, Illinois,
Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia, she may occupy till
dower is assigned; in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey and
Virginia, she may also occupy the plantation or messuage. In Pennsylvania the
statute of 9 Hen. III., c. 7, is in force, Rob. Dig. 176, by which it is
declared that "a widow shall tarry in the chief house of her hushand forty days
after his death, within which, her dower shall be assigned her." In
Massachusetts the widow is entitled to support for forty days in North Carolina
for one year.

QUARE, pleadings. Wherefore. This word is sometimes used in the
writ in certain actions, but is inadmissible in a material averment in the
pleadings, for it is merely interrogatory and, therefore, when a declaration
began with complaining of the defendant, "wherefore with force, &c. he
broke and entered" the plaintiff's close, was considered ill. Bac. Ab. Pleas, B
5, 4; Gould on Pl. c. 3, 34.

QUARE CLAUSUM FREGIT. Wherefore he broke the close. In actions
of trespass to real estate the defendant is charged with breaking the close of
the plain-tiff. Formerly the original writ in such a case was a writ of
trespass quare clausum fregit, now the charge of breaking the close is laid in
the declaration. See Close; Trespass.

QUARE EJECIT INFRA TERMINUM. Wherefore did he eject within the
term. The name of a writ which lies for a 1essee, who has been turned out of
his farm before the expiration of his term or lease, Against the feoffee of the
land, or the lessor who ejects him. This has given way to the action of
ejectment. 3 Bl. Com. 207.

QUARE IMPEDIT, Eng. eccl. law. The name of a writ directed by
the king to the sheriff, by which he is required to command certain persons by
name to permit him, the king, to present a fit person to a certain church,
which is void, and which belongs to his gift, and of which the said defendants
hinder the king, as it is said, and unless, &c. then to summon, &c. the
defendants so that they be and appear, &c. F. N. B. 74.

QUARE OBSTRUXIT. The name of a writ formerly used in favor of
one who having a right to pass through his neighbor's grounds, was prevented
enjoying such right, because the owner of the grounds had obstructed the way.
T. L.

QUARREL. A dispute; a difference. In law, particularly in
releases, which are taken most Bly against the releasor, when a man releases
all quarrels he is said to release all actions, real and personal. 8 Co.
153.

QUARRY. A place whence stones are dug for the purpose of being
employed in building, making roads, and the like.

2. When a farm is let with an open quarry, the tenant may, when not
restrained by his contract, take out the stone, but he has no right to open new
quarries. Vide Mines. Waste.

QUART, measures. A quart is a liquid measure containing
one-fourth part of a gallon.

QUARTER. A measure of length, equal to four inches. Vide
Measure.

To QUARTER. A barbarous punishment formerly inflicted on
criminals by tearing them to pieces by means of four horses, one attached to
each limb.

QUARTER DAY. One of the four days of the year on which rent
payable quarterly becomes due.

QUARTER DOLLAR, money. A silver coin of the United States of the
value of twenty-five cents.

2. It weighs one hundred and threee and one-eighth grains. Of one
thousand parts, nine hundred are of pure silver and one hundred of alloy. Act
of January 18, 1837, s. 8 and 9, 4 Sharsw. L. U. S. 2523, 4. Vide Money.

QUARTER EAGLE, money. A gold coin of the United States of the
value of two dollars and a half.

QUARTERING OF SOLDIERS. The constitution of the United States,
Amendm. art. 3, provides that "no soldier shall in time of peace be quartered,
in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a
manner to be prescribed by law." By quartering is understood boarding and
lodging or either. Encycl. Amer. h. t.

QUARTEROON. One who has had one of his grand parents of the
black or African race.

QUARTO DIE POST. The fourth day inclusive after the return day
of the writ is so called. This is the day of appearance given ex gracia
curiae.

TO QUASH, practice. To overthrow or annul.

2. When proceedings are clearly irregular and void the courts will quash
them, both in civil and criminal cases: for example, when the array is clearly
irregular, as if the jurors have been selected by persons not authorized by
law, it will be quashed. 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 3342.

3. In criminal cases, when an indictment is so defective that no
judgment can be given upon it, should the defendant be convicted, the court,
upon application, will in general quash it; as if it have no jurisdiction of
the offence charged, or when the matter charged is not indictable. 1 Burr. 516,
548; Andr. 226. When the application to quash is made on the part of the
defendant, the court generally refuses to quash the indictment when it appears
some enormous crime has been committed. Com. Dig. Indictment, H; Wils. 325; 1
Salk. 372; 3 T. R. 621; 6 Mod. 42; 3 Burr. 1841; 5 Mod. 13; Bac. Abr.
Indictment, K. When the application is made on the part of the prosecution, the
indictment will be quashed whenever it is defective so that the defendant
cannot be convicted, and the prosecution appears to be bona fide. If the
prosecution be instituted by the attorney general, he may, in some states,
enter a nolle prosequi, which has the same effect. 1 Dougl. 239, 240. The
application should be made before plea pleaded; Leach, 11; 4 St. Tr. 232; 1
Hale, 35; Fost. 231; and before the defendant's recognizance has been
forfeited. 1 Salk. 380. Vide Cassetur Breve.

QUASI. A Latin word in frequent use in the civil law signifying
as if, almost. It marks the resemblance, and supposes a little difference
between two objects. Dig. b. 11, t. 7, 1. 8, 1. Civilians use the expressions
quasi-contractus, quasi-delictum, quasi-possessio quasi-traditio, &c.

QUASI-AFINITY. A term used in the civil law to designate the
affinity which exists between two persons, one of whom has been betrothed to
the kindred of the other, but who have never been married. For example, my
brother is betrothed to Maria, and, afterwards, before marriage he dies, there
then exists between Maria and me a quasi-affinity.

2. The history of England furnishes an example of this kind. Catherine
of Arragon was betrothed to the brother of Henry VIII. Afterwards Henry married
her and, under the pretence of this quasi affinity, he repudiated her, because
the marriage was incestuous.

QUASI-CONTRACTUS. A term used in the civil law. A quasi-contract
is the act of a person, permitted by law, by which he obligates himself towards
another, or by which another binds himself to him, without any agreement
between them.

2. By article 2272 of the Civil Code of Louisiana, which is translated
from article 1371 of the Code Civil, quasi-contracts are defined to be "the
lawful and purely voluntary acts of a man, from which there results any
obligation whatever to a third person, and sometime a reciprocal obligation
between the parties." In contracts, it is the consent of the contracting
parties which produces the obligation; in quasi-contracts no consent is
required, and the obligation arises from the law or natural equity, on the
facts of the case. These acts are called quasi-contracts, because, without
being contracts, they bind the parties as contracts do.

3. Quasi-contracts may be multiplied almost to infinity. They are,
however, divided into five classes: such "relate to the voluntary and
spontaneous management of the affairs of another, without authority; the
administration of tutorship; the management of common property; the acquisition
of an inheritance; and the payment of a sum of money or other thing by mistake,
when nothing was due.

4. - 1. Negotiorum gestio. When a man undertakes of his own accord to
manage the affairs of another, the person assuming the agency contracts the
tacit engagement to continue it, an& complete it, until the owner shall be
in a condition to attend to it himself. The obligation of such a person is,
1st. To act for the benefit of the absentee. 2d. He is commonly answerable for
the slightest neglect. 3d. He is bound to render an account of his management.
Equity obliges the proprietor, whose business has been well managed, 1st. To
comply with the engagements contracted by the manager in his name. 2d. To
indemnify the manager in all the engagements he has contracted. 3d. To
reimburse him all useful and necessary expenses.

5. - 2. Tutorship or guardianship, is the second kind of
quasi-contracts, there being no agreement between the tutor and minor.

6. - 3. When a person has the management of a common property owned by
himself and others, not as partners, he is bound to account for the profits,
and is entitled to be reimbursed for the expenses which he has sustained by
virtue of the quasi-contract which is created by his act, called communio
bonorum.

7. - 4. The fourth class is the aditio herreditatis, by which the heir
is bound to pay the legatees, who cannot be said to have any contract with him
or with the deceased.

8. - 5. Indebiti solutio, or the payment to one of what is not due to
him, if made through any mistake in fact, or even in law, entitles him who made
the payment to an action against the receiver for repayment, condictio
indebiti. This action does not lie, 1. If the sum paid was due ex equitate, or
by a natural obligation. 2. If he who made the payment; knew that nothing was
due, for qui consulto dat quod non, debebat, proesumitur donare.

9. Each of these quasi-contracts has an affinity with some contract;
thus the management of the affairs of another without authority, and tutorship,
are compared to a mandate; the community of property, to a partnership; the
acquisition of an inheritance, to a stipulation; and the payment of a thing
which is not due, to a loan.

10. All persons, even infants and persons destitute of reason, who are
consequently incapable of consent may be obliged by the quasi-contract, which
results from the act of another, and may also oblige others in their favor; for
it is not consent which forms these obligations; they are contracted by the act
of another, without any act on our part. The use of reason is indeed required
in the person whose act formsthe quasi-contract, but it is not re-quired in the
person by whom or in whose favor the obligations which result from it are
contracted. For instance, if a person undertakes the business of an infant or a
lunatic; this is a quasi-contract, which obliges the infant or the lunatic to
the person undertaking his affairs, for what he has beneficially expended, and
reciprocally obliges the person to give an account of his administration or
management.

11. There is no term in the common law which answers to that of
quasi-contract; many quasi-contracts may doubtless be classed among implied
contracts; there is, however, a difference between them, which an example will
make manifest. In case money should be paid by mistake to a minor, it may be
recovered from him by the civil law, because his consent is not necessary to a
quasi-contract but by the common law, if it can be recovered, it must be upon
an agreement to which the law presumes he has consented, and it is doubtful,
upon principle, whether such recovery could be had.

QUASI CORPORATIONS. This term is applied to such bodies or
municipal socie-ties, which, though not vested with the general powers of
corporations, are yet recognized by statutes or immemorial usage, as persons or
aggregate corporations, with precise duties which may be enforced, and
privileges which may be maintained by suits at law. They may be considered qua
corporations, with limited powers, coextensive with the duties imposed upon
them by statute or usage; but restrained from a general use of the authority,
which belongs to those metaphysical persons by the common law.

2. Among quasi corporations may be ranked towns, townships, parishes,
hundreds, and other political divisions of counties, which are established
with-out an express charter of incorporation; commissioners of a county,
supervisors of highways, overseers of the poor, loan officers of a county, and
the like, who are invested with corporate powers sub modo, and for a few
specified purposes only. But not such a body as the general assembly of the
Preshyterian church, which has not the capacity to sue and be sued. 4 Whart.
531. See 2 Kent Com. 224; Ang. on Corp. 16; 13 Mass. 192; 18 John. R. 422; 1
Cowen, R. 258, and the note; 2 Wend. R. 109; 7 Mass. R. 187; 2 Pick. R. 352; 9
Mass. Rep. 250; 1 Greenl. R. 363; 2 John. Ch. Rep. 325; 1 Cowen, 680; 4
Wharton, R. 531, 598.

QUASI DELICT, civil law. An act whereby a person, without
malice, but by fault, negligence or imprudence not legally excusable, causes
injury to another.

2. A quasi delict may be public or private; the neglect of the affairs
of a community, when it is our duty to attend to them, may be a crime; the
neglect of a private matter, under similar circumstances, may be the ground of
a civil action. Bowy. Mod. C. L. c. 43, p. 265.

QUASI OFFENCES, torts, civil law. Those acts which, although not
committed by the persons responsible for them, are by implication of law
supposed to have been committed by their command, by other persons for whom
they are answerable. They are also injuries which have been caused by one
person to another, without any intention to hurt them.

2. Of the first class of quasi offences are the injuries occasioned by
agents or servants in the exercise of their employments. A master is,
therefore, liable to be sued for injuries occasioned by the neglect or
unskilfulness of his servant while in the course of his employment, though the
act was obviously tortious and against the master's consent as, for fraud,
deceit, or other wrongful act. 1 Salk . 280; Cro. Jac. 473; 1 Str. 653; Roll.
Abr. 95, 1. 15; 1 East, 106; 2 H. Bl. 442; 3 Wills. 313; 2 Bl. Rep. 845; 5
Binn. 54 0; sed vide, Com. Dig. tit. Action on the case for deceit, B. A master
is liable for a servant's negligent driving of a carriage or navigating a ship;
1 East, 105; or for a libel inserted in a newspaper of which defendant was
proprietor. 1 B. & P. 409. The master is also liable not only for the acts
of those immediately employed about him, but even for the acts of a sub-agent,
however remote, if committed in the course of his service; 1 Bos. & P. 404;
6 T. R. 411; and a corporate company are liable to be sued for the wrongful
acts of their servants; 3 Camp. 403; when not, see 4 M. & S. 27.

3. But the wrongful or unlawful acts must be committed in the course of
the servant's employmen, and while the servant is acting as such; therefore a
person who hires a post chaise is not liable for the negligence of the driver,
but the action must be against the driver or owner of the chaise and horses. 6
Esp. Cas. 35; 4 Barn. & A. 409 sed vide 1 B. & P. 409.

4. A master is not in general liable for the criminal acts of his
servant wilfully committed by him. 2 Str. 885. Neither is he liable his servant
wilfully commit an injury to another as if a servant wilfully drive his
master's carriage against another's, or ride or beat a distress damage feasant.
1 East. 106; Rep. T. Hard. 87; 3 Wils. 217; 1 Salk. 289; 2 Roll. Abr. 553; 4 B.
& A. 590. In some cases, however, where it is the duty of the master to see
that the servant acts correctly, he may be liable criminally for what the
servant has done; as where a baker's servant introduced noxious materials in
his bread. 3 M. & S. 11; Ld. Raymond, 264; 4 Camp. 12. And on principles of
public policy, a sheriff is liable civilly for the trespass, extortion, or
other wilful misconduct of his bailiff. 2 T. Rep. 154; 3 Wils. 317; 8 T. R.
431.

5. In Louisiana, the father, or after his decease, the mother is
responsible for the damages occasioned by their minor or unemancipated
children, residing with them, or placed by them under the care of other
persons, reserving to them recourse against those persons. Code art. 2297. The
curators of insane persons are answerable for the damage occasioned by those
under their care. Id. 2298. Masters and employers are answerable for the damage
occasioned by their servants and overseers, in the exercise of the functions in
which they are employed; teachers and artisans, for the damage caused by their
scholars and apprentices, while under their superintendence. In the above cases
responsibility attaches, when the masters or employers, teachers and artisans,
might have prevented the act which caused the damage, and have not done it. Id.
299. The owner of an animal is answerable for the damage he has caused; but if
the animal has been lost or strayed more than a day, he may discharge himself
from this responsibility, by abandoning him to the person who his sustained the
injury; except where the master has turned loose a dangerous or noxious animal;
for then he must pay all the harm done without being allowed to make the
abandonment. Id. 2301.

QUASI PARTNERS. Partners of lands, goods, or chattels, who are
not actual partners, are sometimes so called. Poth. De Societe, App. n. 184.
Vide Part owners.

QUASI POSTHUMOUS CHILD, civil law. One who, born during the life
of his grand father, or other male ascendant, was not his heir at the time he
made his testament, but who by the death of his father became his heir in his
lifetime. Inst. 2, 13, 2; Dig. 28, 3, 13.

QUASI PURCHASE. This term is used in the civil law to denote
that a thing is to be considered as purchased from the presumed consent of the
owner of the thing; as, if a man should consume a cheese, which is in his
possession and belonging to another, with an intent to pay the price of it to
the owner, the consent of the latter will be presumed, as the cheese would have
been spoiled by keeping it longer. Wolff, Dr. de la Nat. 691.

QUASI TRADITION, civil law. A term used to designate that a
person is in the use of the property of another, which the latter suffers and
does not oppose. Lec. Elein. 396. It alsosignifies the act by which the right
of property is ceded in a thing to a person who is in possession of it; as, if
I loan a boat to Paul, and deliver it to him, and afterwards I sell him the
boat, it is not requisite that he should deliver the boat to me, to be again
delivered to him there is a quasi tradition or delivery.

QUATUORVIRI. Among the Romans these were magistrates who had the
care and inspection of roads. Dig. 1, 2, 3, 30.

QUAY, estates. A wharf at which to load or land goods, sometimes
spelled key.

2. In its enlarged sense the word quay, means the whole space between
the first row of houses of a city, and the sea or river 5 L. R. 152, 215. So
much of the quay as is requisite for the public use of loading and unloading
vessels, is public property, and cannot be appropriated to private use, but the
rest may be, private property. Id. 201.

QUEAN. A worthless woman a strumpet. The meaning of this word,
which is now seldom used, is said not to be well ascertained. 2 Roll. Ab. 296
Bac. Ab. Stander, U 3.

QUEEN. There are several kinds of queens in some countries. 1.
Queen regnant, is a woman who possesses in her own right the executive power of
the country.

2. Queen consort, is the wife of a king.

3. Queen dowager is the widow of a king. In the United States there is
no one with this title.

QUERELA. An action preferred in any court of justice, in which
the plaintiff was called querens or complainant, and his brief, complaint, or
declaration, was called querela. Jacob's Diet. h. t.

QUESTION, punishment, crm. law. A means sometimes employed, in
some countries, by means of torture, to compel supposed great criminals to
disclose their accomplices, or to acknowledge their crimes.

2. This torture is called question, because, as the unfortunate person
accused is made to suffer pain, he is asked questions as to his supposed crime
or accomplices. The same as torture. This is unknown in the United States. See
Poth. Procedure Criminelle, sect. 5, art. 2, 3.

QUESTION, evidence. An interrogation put to a witness,
requesting him to declare the truth of certain facts as far as he knows
them.

2. Questions are either general or leading. By a general question is
meant such an one as requires the witness to state all be knows without any
suggestion being made to him, as who gave the blow?

3. A leading question is one which leads the mind of the witness to the
answer, or suggests it to him, as did A B give the blow?

4. The Romans called a question by which the fact or supposed fact which
the interrogator expected, or wished to find asserted, in and by the answer
made to the proposed respondent, a suggestive interrogation, as, is not your
name A B? Vide Leading Question.

QUESTION, practice. A point on which the parties are not agreed,
and which is submitted to the decision of a judge and jury.

2. When the doubt or difference arises as to what the law is on a
certain state of facts, this is said to be a legal question, and when the party
demurs, this is to be decided by the court; when it arises as to the truth or
falsehood of facts, this is a question of fact, and is to be decided by the
jury.

QUESTOR or QUAESTOR, civil law. A name which was given to two
distinct classes of Roman officers. One of which was called quaestores
classici, and the other quaestores parricidii,

2. The quaestores classici were officers entrusted with the care of the
public money. Their duties consisted in making the necessary payments from the
aerarium, and receiving the public revenues. Of both, they had to keep correct
accounts in their tabulae publicae. Demands which any one might have on the
aerarium, and outstanding debts were likewise registered by them. Fines to be
paid to the public treasury were registered and exacted by them. They were
likewise to provide proper accomodations for foreign ambassadors and such
persons as were connected with the republic by ties of public hospitality.
Lastly, they were charged with the care of the burials and monuments of
distin-guished men, the expenses for which had been decreed by the senate to be
paid, by the treasury. Their number at first was confined to two, but this was
afterwards increased as the empire became, extended. There were questors of
cities, provinces, and questors of the army, the latter were in fact
pay-masters.

3. The questores parricidii were public accusers, two in number, who
conducted the accusation of persons guilty of murder or any other capital
offence, and carried the sentence into execution. They ceased to be appointed
at an early period, Smith's Dic. Gr. and Rom. Antiq. h. v.

QUI TAM, remedies. Who as well. When a statute imposes a
penalty, for the doing or not doing an act, and gives that penalty in part to
whosoever will sue for the same, and the other part to the commonwealth, or
some charitable, literary, or other institution, and makes it recoverable by
action, such actions are called qui tam actions, the plaintiff describing
himself as suing as well for the commonwealth, for example, as for himself.
Espin. on Pen. Act. 5, 6; 1 Vin. Ab. 197; 1 Salk. 129 n.; Bac. Ab. h. t.

QUIA, pleadings. Because. This word is considered a term of
affirmation. It is sufficiently direct and positive for introducing a material
averment. 1 Saund. 117, n. 4; Com. Dig, Pleader, c. 77.

QUIA EMPTORES. A name sometimes given to the English Statute of
Westminster, 3, 13 Edw. I., c. 1, from its initial words. 2 Bl. Com. 91.

QUIA TIMET, remedies. Because he fears. According to Lord Coke,
"there be six writs of law that may be maintained quia timet, before any
molestation, distress, or impleading; as. 1. A man may have his writ or mesne,
before he be distrained. 2. A warrantia chartae, before he be impleaded. 3. A
monstra-verunt, before any distress or vexation. 4. An audita querela, before
any execution sued. 5. A curia claudenda, before any default of inclosure. 6. A
ne injuste vexes, before any distress or molestation. And those are called
brevia anticipantia, writs of prevention." Co. Litt. 100 and see 7 Bro. P. C.
12 5.

QUIBBLE. A slight difficulty raised without necessity or
propriety; a cavil.

2. No justly eminent member of the bar will resort to a quibble in his
argument. It is contrary to his oath, which is to be true to the court as well
as to the client; and bad policy because by resorting to it, he will lose his
character as a man of probity.

QUICK WITH CHILD, or QUICKENING, med. jurisp. The motion of the
foetus, when felt by the mother, is called quickening, and the mother is then
said to be quick with child. 1 Beck's Med. Jurisp. 172; 1 Russ. on Cr. 553.

2. This happens at different periods of pregnancy in different women,
and in different circumstances, but most usually about the fifteenth or
sixteenth week after conception. 3 Camp. Rep. 97.

3. It is at this time that in law, life (q. v.) is said to commence. By
statute, a distinction is made between a woman quick with child, and one who,
though pregnant, is not so, when she is said to be privement enceinte. (q. v.)
1 Bl. Com. 129.

4. Procuring the abortion (q. v.) of a woman quick with child, is a
misdemeanor when a woman is capitally convicted, if she be enceinte, it is said
by Lord Hale, 2 P. C. 413, that unless they be quick with child, it is no cause
for staying execution, but that if she be enceinte, and quick with child, she
may allege that fact in retardationem executionis. The humanity of the law of
the present day would scarcely sanction the execution of a woman whose
pregnancy was undisputed, although she might not be quick with child; for
physiologists, perhaps not without reason, think the child is a living being
from the moment of conception. 1 Beck, Med. Jur. 291; Guy, Med. Jur. 86,
87.

QUID PRO QUO. This phrase signifies verbatim, what for what. It
is applied to the consideration of a contract. See Co. Litt. 47, b; 7 Mann.
& Gr. 998.

QUIDAM, French law. Some, one; somebody. This Latin word is
used to express an unknown person, or one who cannot be named.

2. A quidam is usually described by the features of his face, the color
of his hair, his height, his clothing, and the like in any process which may be
issued against him. Merl. Repert. h. t.; Encyclopedie, h. t.

3. A warrant directing the officer to arrest the "associates" of persons
named, without naming them, is void. 3 Munf. 458.

QUIET ENJOYMENT. In leases there are frequently covenants by
which the lessor agrees that the lessee shall peaceably enjoy the premises
leased; this is called a covenant for quiet enjoyment. This covenant goes to
the possession and not to the title. 3 John. 471; 5 John. 120; 2 Dev. R. 388; 3
Dev. R. 200. A covenant for quiet enjoyment does not extend as far as a
covenant of warranty. 1 Aik. 233.

2. It is an instrument by the clerk of the pipe, and auditors in the
exchequer, as proof of their acquittance or discharge to accountants. Cow. Int.
h. t.

QUlNTAL. A weight of one hundred pounds

QUlNTO EXACTUS, Eng. law. The fifth call or last requisition of
a defendant sued to outlawry.

QUIT CLAIM, conveyancing. By the laws of Connecticut, it is the
common practice there for the owner of land to execute a quit claim deed to a
purchaser who has neither possession nor pretence of claim, and as by the laws
of that state the delivery of the deed amounts to the delivery of possession,
this operates as a conveyance without warranty. It is, however, essential that
the land should not, at the time of the conveyance, be in the possession of a
stranger, holding adversely to the title of the grantor. l Swift's Dig. 133; 2
N. H. R. 402; 1 Cowen, 613; and vide Release.

QUIT CLAIM, contracts. A release or acquittal of a man from all
claims which the releasor has against him.

QUIT RENT. A rent paid by the tenant of the freehold, by which
he goes quit and free; that is, discharged from any other rent. 2 Bl. Com.
42.

2. In England, quit rents were rents reserved to the king or a
proprietor, on an absolute grant of waste land, for which a price in gross was
at first paid, and a mere nominal rent reserved as a feudal acknowledgment of
tenure. Inasmuch as no rent of this description can exist in the United States,
when a quit rent is spoken of, some other interest must be intended. 5 Call. R.
364. A perpetual rent reserved on a conveyance in fee simple, is sometimes
known by the name of quit rent in Massachusetts. 1 Hill. Ab. 150. See Ground
Rent; Rent.

QUO ANIMO. The intent; the mind with which a thing has been
done; as, the quo animo with which the words were spoken may be shown by the
proof of conversations of the defendant relating to the original defamation. 19
Wend. 296.

JURE, WRIT OF, Engl. law. The name of a writ commanding the
defendant to show by what right he demands common of pasture in the land of the
complainant, who claims to have a fee in the same. F. N. B. 299.

QUO MlNUS. The name of a writ. In England, when the king's
debtor is sued in the court of the exchequer, he may sue out a writ of quo
minus, in which he suggests that he is the king's debtor, and that the
defendant has done him the injury or damage complained of, quo minus sufficiens
existit, by which he is less able to pay the king's debt. This was originally
requisite in order to give jurisdiction to the court of exchequer, but now this
suggestion is a mere form. 3 Bl. Com. 46.

QUO WARRANTO, remedies. By what authority or warrant. The name
of a writ issued in the name of a government against any person or corporation
that usurps any franchise or office, commanding the sheriff of the county to
summon the defendant to be and appear before the court whence the writ issued,
at a time and place therein named, to show "quo warranto" he claims the
franchise or office mentioned in the writ. Old Nat. Br. 149; . 5 Wheat. 291; 15
Mass. 125; 5 Ham. 358; 1 Miss. 115.

2. This writ has become obsolete, having given way to informations in
the nature of a quo warranto at the common law; Ang. on Corp. 469; it is
authorized in Pennsylvania by legislative sanction. Act 14 June, 1836. Vide 1
Vern. 156; Yelv. 190; 7 Com. Dig. 189; 17 Vin. Ab. 177.

3. An information in the nature of a quo warranto, although a criminal
proceeding in form, in substance, is a civil one. 1 Serg. & Rawle, 382.

QUOAD HOC. As to this; with respect to this. A term frequently
used to signify, as to the thing named, the law is so and so.

QUOD COMPUTET. The name of an interlocutory judgment in an
action of account render: also the name of a decree in the case of creditors'
bills against executors or administrators. Such a decree directs the master to
take the accounts between the deceased and all his creditors; to cause the
creditors, upon due and public notice to come before him to prove their debts,
at a certain place, and within a limited period; and also directs the master to
take an account of all personal estate of the deceased in the hands of the
executor or administrator. Story, Eq. Jur. SS 548. See Judgment quod
computet.

QUOD CUM, pleading; It is a general rule in pleading, regulating
alike every form of action, that the plaintiff shall state his complaint in
positive and direct terms, and not by way of recital. "For that," is a positive
allegation; "for that whereas," in Latin "quod cum," is a recital

2. Matter of inducement may with propriety be stated with a quod cum, by
way of recital; being but introductory to the breach of the promise, and the
supposed fraud or deceit in the defendant's non-performance of it. Therefore,
where the plaintiff declared that whereas there was a communication and
agreement concerning a horse race, and whereas, in consideration that the
plaintiff promised to perform his part of the agreement, the defendant promised
to perform his part thereof; and then alleged the performance in the usual way;
it was held that the inducement and promise were alleged certainly enough, and
that the word "whereas" was as direct an affirmation as the word "although,"
which undoubtedly makes a good averment; and it was observed that there were
two precedents in the new book of entries, and seven in the old, where a quod
cum was used in the very clause of the promise. Ernly v. Doddington, Hard. 1.
go, where the plaintiff declared on a bill of exchange against the drawer, and
on demurrer to the declaration, it was objected that it was with a quod cum,
which was argumentative, and implied no direct averment; the objection was
over-ruled, because assumpsit is an action on the case, although it might have
been otherwise in trespass vi et armis. March v. Southwell, 2 Show. 180. The
reason of this distinction is, that in assumpsit or other action on the case,
the statement of the gravamen, or grievance, always follows some previous
matter, which is introduced by the quod cum, and is dependent or consequent
upon it; and the quod cum only refers to that introductory matter, which leads
on to the subsequent statement, which statement is positively and directly
alleged. For example, the breach in an action of assumpsit is always preceded
by the allegation of the consideration or promise, or some inducement thereto,
which leads onto the breach of it, which is stated positively and directly; and
the previous allegations only, which introduce it, are stated with a quod cum,
by way of recital.

3. But in trespass vi et armis, the act of trespass complained of is
usually stated without any introductory matter having reference to it, or to
which a quod cum can be referred; so that if a quod cum be used, there is no
positive or direct allegation of that act. Sherland v. Heat 214. After verdict
the quod cum may be considered as surplusage, the defect being cured by the
verdict. Horton v. Mink, 1 Browne's R. 68; Com. Dig. Pleader, C 86.

QUOD EI DEFORCEAT, Engl. law. The name of a writ given by Stat.
Westmin. 2, 13 Edw. I. c. 4, to the owners of a particular estate, as for life,
in dower, by the curtesy, or in fee tail, who are barred of the right of
possession by a recovery had against them through their default or
non-appearance in a possessory action; by which the right was restored to him,
who had been thus unwarily deforced by his own default. 3 Bl. Com. 193.

QUOD PERMITTAT, Engl. law. That he permit. The name of a writ
which lies for the heir of him who is disseised of his common of pasture,
against the heir of the disseisor, he being dead. Termes de la Ley.

QUOD PERMITTAT PROSTERNERE, Engl. law. That he give leave to
demolish. The name of a writ which commands the defendant to permit the
plaintiff to abate the nuisance of which complaint is made, or otherwise to
appear in court and to show cause why he will not. On proof of the facts the
plaintiff is entitled to have judgment to abate the nuisance and to recover
damages. This proceeding, on account of its tediousness and expense, has given
way to a special action on the case.

QUOD PROSTRAVIT. The name of a judgment upon an indictment for a
nuisance, that the defendant abate such nuisance.

QUOD RECUPERET. That he recover. The form of a judgment that the
plaintiff do recover. See Judgment quod recuperet.

QUORUM. Used substantively, quorum signifies the number of
persons belonging to a legislative assembly, a corporation, society, or other
body, required to transact business; there is a difference between an act done
by a definite number of persons, and one performed by an indefinite number: in
the first case a majority is required to constitute a quorum, unless the law
expressly directs that another number may make one; in the latter case any
number who may be present may act, the majority of those present having, as in
other cases, the right to act. 7 Cowen, 402; 9 B. & C. 648; Ang. on Corp.
28.1.

2. Sometimes the law requires a greater number than a bare majority to
form a quorum, in such case no quorum is present until such a number
convene.

3. When an authority is confided to several persons for a private
purpose, all must join in the act, unless otherwise authorized. 6 John. R. 38.
Vide Authority, Majority; Plurality.

QUOT, Scotch law. The twentieth part of the movables, computed
without computation of debts, was so called.

2. Formerly the bishop was entitled, in all confirmations, to the quot
of the testament. Ersk. Prin. B. 3, t. 9, n. 11.

QUOTA. That part which each one is to bear of some expense; as,
his quota of this debt; that is, his proportion of such debt.

QUOTATION, practice. The allegation of some authority or case,
or passage of some law, in support of a position which it is desired to
establish.

2. Quotations when properly made, assist the reader, but when misplaced,
they are inconvenient. As to the manner of quoting or citing authorities, see
Abbreviations; Citations.

QUOTATION, rights. The transcript of a part of a book or
writing from a book or paper into another.

2. If the quotation is fair, aud not so extensive as to extract the
whole value or the most valuable part of an author, it will not be a violation
of the copyright. It is mostly difficult to define what is a fair quotation.
When the quotation is unfair, an injunction will lie to restrain the
publication. See 17 Ves. 424; 1 Bell's Com. 121, 5th ed.

3. "That part of a work of one author found in another," observed Lord
Ellenborough, "is not of itself piracy, or sufficient to support an action; a
man may adopt part of the work of another; he may so make use ofanother's
labors for the promotion of science, and the benefit of the public." 5 Esp. N.
P. C. 170; 1 Campb. 94. See Curt. on Copyr. 242; 3 Myl. & Cr. 737, 738; 17
Ves. 422; 1 Campb. 94; 2 Story, R. 100; 2 Beav. 6, 7; Abridgment;
Copyright.

QUOUSQUE. A Latin adverb, which signifies how long, how far,
until.

2. In old conveyances it is used as a word of limitation. 10 Co. 41.

3. In practice it is the name of an execution which is to have force
until the defendant shall do a certain thing. Of this kind is the capias ad
satisfaciendum, by virtue of which the body of the defendant is taken into
execution, and he is imprisoned until be shall satisfy the execution. 3 Bouv.
Inst. n. 3371.